Entries in DRM025
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DJ Dirty Dale can move crowds like few others can, a pillar in Toronto's house music community.

Twenty-five. No, I am not talking about my age, or the number of times I have woken up in a ditch without pants on. Not this time. Rather, it refers to our Deeply Rooted Mixtape series, and the current volume that is being released here before your eyes today, December 8th, 2012.

Twenty-five exclusively mixed sets in nine short months. Awesome. To make that even sweeter, the twenty fifth mix comes from Dale Arsenault, simply, but aptly known as Dirty Dale in Toronto's house music scene. Originally, Dale was known as a dancer, a lover of music who could move his damn feet, arms and body like a mother fucking boss, leaving jaws on the floor and bystanders wanting more. To exemplify this point, check out this clip of Dale smashing the dance in Montreal circa 2008. Yes, he can still dance better than all of us.

DIRTY DALE MERKING THE SHIT OUT OF THE COMPETITION. UNREAL.

I never knew Dale as a dancer, only as a DJ. The first time I saw him spin was at some rave cave on Queen West, in one of the units above the infamous W Afterhours, aka 721. Picture it. I walk into the party, which has barely begun, and crack a cold one. The DJ is a smaller man, unique, yet filled with a demonic energy waiting to be unleashed - - and it was - - before the swelling crowd that steadily pumped into the space. Forward ten minutes, and the beads of sweat on this DJ's brow had swelled to the point that they were rolling down his face, and thats when it came. Like an eighteen wheeler with an oversized load, the drop was absolutely massive, and the crowd literally went fucking apeshit - - and the whole room shook like we were at the epicenter of some fucking world disaster. Almost instantly, the DJ with little beads of sweat and no name was drenched from head to toe, kids hanging from the ceiling and the mirrored interior of the rave cave (dance studio) were fogged up like we were all in there having a group shower. I found out from one of the panting partygoers that the DJ's name was Dirty Dale. The guy was amazing. So amazing that the DJ after him played for about ten minutes, and the party was over. No one could stand hearing an "OK" set after watcing an Atomic Dance Bomb go off before their eyes.

For me, Dirty Dale is exactly what a REAL DJ is. Someone who is absolutely passionate about music, their craft and always has the dancefloor in mind - - not just the newest tunes haphazardly throwin into a "set". I am not a DJ. Dirty Dale is a proper fucking DJ, and I am not afraid to say that he is the best male DJ in this city, hands down. While he does do some producing, he is not known for that. He is known as a selector who knows his shit, who probably even knows your shit more then you do, and who has developed a solid following of supporters who want to see him unleash that unbelievable energy that motivates dancers on any dancefloor, anytime, anywhere. He has incredible draw for someone who -- until recently -- was "just a DJ".

Since I first saw him spin about two years ago, I have seen this Dirt Hurricane absolutely destroy dancefloors across our city at least a dozen times or more. Most of the time Dale is more excited than the crowd is, riding a wave of emotional energy like a general in battle, commanding the respect of those who follow him from venue to venue, battle to battle, dancefloor to dancefloor. Seven times out of ten, Dale will simply steal the show from the international headliners he is contracted to open or close for - - anyone remember Gramaphonedzie's set at the Great Hall a couple of months ago? Anyone?

So here it is, DRM025 by Dirty Dale. It is with great pleasure that the boys and I at The Deep North present this wonderful exclusive mix to all of our readers and the hundreds of Dirty Dale fans out there - - we are honoured.

Dirty Dale is the best in the game. Thanks for being such an inspiration. You are one of the reasons we do what we do.